New Execs--Changes in the Wind

Old values, new blood, high hopes. These are the foundational forces that withstand time, yet inspire change and growth, for printing's newest executives.

BY CHERYL A. ADAMS

For King of Prussia, PA-based XYAN, 1999 was a very big year. First, two new executives were named: CEO Alan Belyea and President David McGrew. But according to these top two execs, the even bigger news is XYAN's recent announcement that the company is refining its business strategy.

Focusing on its Internet capabilities, which include on-line ordering, file transmission and e-commerce fulfillment, the firm has changed its name to XYAN.com and has revised its logo to reflect the new strategy. Furthermore, Belyea and McGrew say XYAN has officially launched its new Website—www.xyan.com—which has been completely revamped to reflect the company's new position as an e-document solutions provider and an "information value chain" (IVC) specialist—one capable of "the creation of analog and digital assets, planning and construction of information systems, database management, archiving and securing of data, database mining and conversion, and the transformation of data into informational outputs."

Belyea and McGrew are proud of their firm's newly refined strategy and its millennium-bound iniatives. But where do they think XYAN.com fits into the bigger picture—the commercial printing industry in the 21st Century? Here are some thoughts from the company's No. 1 and No. 2 men, respectively.

POISED FOR CHANGE
Alan D. Belyea, CEO
XYAN.com, King of Prussia, PA

Alan Belyea has served in numerous financial, manufacturing, operations, sales and business management positions over the years, including his most recent stint with NovaCare Inc., where he served as vice president of planning and analysis for the company's Outpatient Division. As a veteran financial and operational wizard, but a newcomer to the commercial printing industry, he offers an interesting perspective.

"This industry is a sleeping giant, with a growth rate in the single digits. However, it is poised for radical change," he says, noting that 1999 was a year of modest growth for traditional printing, with limited technological advancements. "There was, however, explosive growth in on-demand digital solutions with a focus on business-to-business e-commerce."